Woodside Bible Church Romeo: Recent Episodes
Woodside Bible Church Romeo
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Have you ever felt ravaged by sorrow for yourself? Ever felt defeated and bundled in a ball of self-pity? In a society that is fixated on ourselves, it’s likely you’ve felt this way before. Even Elijah, a man of great faith, fell into a pit of depression caused by his self-pity. Today, we continue in our series: Elijah, picking up in 1 Kings. In 1 Kings 19, we see the aftermath of the defeat of the false god, Baal; that though it was a good thing, there was still some unhappiness in the end. This causes Elijah to fall into self-pity. Through his battle of self-pity, God comes in and strengthens Elijah. His conquering of self-pity can be beneficial to us when these times overtake us. God conquers our self-pity by calling us to himself, to his truth, and to serve. Listen to our newest message of the series, Conquering Self-Pity, may these truths give us strength and courage as we look to overcome our defeat.
When you pray do you ever feel like God doesn’t hear you? Have you ever wondered how you can pray in an effective way? God's word says that a righteous person's prayer is powerful. In Christ, your prayers are heard and received by God. They are filled with power, as we are His and filled with His righteousness. Today, we continue our new series, Elijah, reminding us how the same God Elijah served can use us to live a life of impact for His kingdom. We are preaching from the same passage of scripture from last week, finishing up the story of Elijah facing off the prophets of Baal. In this story we see Elijah’s strong faith in God and his prayers of fervor. Elijah’s prayers were persistent in remembering Gods promises and in accordance with the Word of God. Listen to our newest message of the series, The Prayer of a Righteous Person, and hear that the prayer of a righteous person is effective and powerful.
Have you ever noticed that in the Bible fruit is frequently used in parables, stories, or symbolism? Fruit and farming were common things among the people of Bible, so it was an easy topic to relate to in a message. While scripture was written to the people of those days, it was also written for us! So, it is important for us to understand just exactly what Christ means when posed with the question; “How do we produce fruitful lives?” We continue our series, The Followers Trail Guide: Navigating the Path of Jesus, following Jesus through his last hours and teaching with his disciples in the book of John known as “The Farewell Discourse.” In these particular verses in John, we see several key aspects of what discipleship of Jesus looks like. Listen to our newest message of the series, Abiding in the Way, and recognize how disciples of Jesus produce fruitful lives!
Do your relationships ever feel like a double-edged sword? On one hand, we all long for community - to know and be known. On the other, many of us have learned that entering a relationship opens us up to a lot of pain. As much as we need each other, people are the very ones who hurt, disappoint, betray, or even abandon us - and family is no exception. As we continue our message series, Family: Why Bother?, we'll explore how the effects of sin have fractured the way God designed us to live in unity with one another. And, together, we'll uncover the answer to reconciling the broken relationships in our own lives. Listen with us to our newest message, The First Family Conflict, and discover the power of Jesus to renew our hurting families.
The first book of the Bible, Genesis, reveals all kinds of family dysfunction – from favoritism and manipulation to accusation and jealousy. Can you relate? It turns out, families have been dysfunctional from the very first. The good news is that just like God used the broken families in Genesis to unleash blessings on the whole world, He can do the same in your family today. As we start our new message series, Family: Why Bother?, we'll experience how Jesus alone can renew, refresh, and restore our hurting families. Listen with us to the first message of our series, Designed for Dignity, and discover God's design for His greatest creation: us.
Over the last two weeks we’ve explored how the glory of God and His undeserved forgiveness compel us to share Him with others so they, too, can encounter His grace. Today we conclude our message series, Send Me: When God Calls Us to Go, by turning to Isaiah 6 where we learn how to listen for God to lead us - and how to respond when He does. Together we'll come face-to-face with who God is, what He's done, and how He calls us to live in response. Tune into our newest message, You Can’t Not Go!, as we embrace how God's calling compels us to move.
It's easy to come up with a long list of reasons why we shouldn't talk to our neighbors about Jesus, isn't it? Perhaps we're sure they've heard it before - it's not like it would be news to them. Or maybe we assume someone else would do a much better job, so we pray for God to send someone better, smarter, and "more Christian" than us. But have you ever paused to consider all the reasons you should tell others about Christ? The reasons you must? Today we continue our message series, Send Me: When God Calls Us to Go, by turning to Isaiah 6 to uncover one undeniable reason we're compelled to share God with others: His forgiveness. Tune into our newest message, Our Greatest Need, as we unpack how receiving God's grace compels us to share it with the world
Throughout the pages of Scripture, God sends and His people go. From Moses to Matthew or Jonah to John, God sends those who have a relationship with Him. So, where is He sending you? Today we begin our newest message series, Send Me: When God Calls Us to Go. Over the next three weeks, we'll look to Isaiah 6 for a glimpse of the way God calls and compels us to go! Through our study, we’ll come face-to-face with what’s keeping us from answering as Isaiah did: “Send me.” Listen along with our first message of this series, The Glory of Going, and witness how God’s holiness compels us to tell others about Him!
This Resurrection Sunday, we conclude our message series, Soul Food: When a Meal with Jesus was More than Food, by unpacking the last meal Jesus shared with His disciples before ascending to heaven. As we step into Luke's Gospel, we'll uncover that Jesus came to earth, lived the sinless life we never could, died in our place, and raised again to new life. Why? To make a way for us to have new, everlasting life in Him. Today we'll place ourselves in the shoes of the disciples that very day and question, if you could share a meal with the resurrected Jesus, what would you ask? What would you learn? Listen along with us to the final episode of this series, If You Could Have One Meal With Jesus, and discover what the living Jesus wants you to know and do about Him.
Jesus ate with “sinners” because he came to bring salvation to those who were sick with sin. Jesus pursues sinful people and invites us to his table to eat and experience His saving work. Sometimes I think we forget that includes us! Have we truly recognized and received that grace? Or have we taken Jesus for granted - or perhaps rejected His grace altogether? Today, we continue our message series, Soul Food: When a Meal with Jesus was More than Food, where we’ll unpack what Jesus has to teach us from the time He spent around the table. As we read on into Luke, we run into a stark contrast between the way two people respond to Jesus’ grace - and wonder which represents our own heart. Listen along with us to the next episode of this series, Is Jesus Good Enough to Eat with You?, and realize that our response to Jesus reveals our grasp of His grace.
Have you ever feared someone? Not in a fear-for-your-own-safety kind of way, but a healthy fear that feels more like respect? Maybe you fear a boss, a mentor, a parent, or even a pastor this way. In Scripture, we're taught the importance of holding this type of fear - reverent fear - toward God. As we continue our series, Jonah: At Odds with God, we come across a group of sailors who teach us what it looks like to fear God in this way - the way His power and authority deserve. Listen with us to our newest message, Who's Afraid?, as we encounter the part fear plays in genuine, submissive faith.
You’ve heard about that guy who got swallowed by a fish? That classic Bible story has breached church circles and even become a part of secular phrases. But, there may just be more beneath the surface of this story. Join us as we encounter a prophet who was not only angry with God but defied God’s desire to save people he didn’t like. Through Jonah: At Odds with God, we’ll pose the tough questions Jonah wrestled through - Am I angry with what God’s done? Allowed? Asked of me? - as we all face the same choice he did: receive God’s mission or resent it. We begin this journey through Jonah with our first message; Defiance Gets Us Nowhere!
It comes so naturally! We see someone and our brain makes a judgement call. When you look out at the world - when you meet other people - what do you see? How do you measure the people in your life? As we continue through our message series, James: Live the Truth, James earnestly pleads with us to measure people by God's standards, not our own. Listen with us to our newest message, Seeing with the Eyes of Faith, as we recognize that a mature faith shows no favoritism, but sees others through God's point of view!
From childhood we've been taught more money equals more happiness. The only thing that's changed over the years is the kind of possessions we desire. The toys and games that brought us happiness then have been replaced by the "need" for bigger houses, faster cars, name-brand clothes, and the newest devices. Sound familiar? Join us as we continue our message series, James: Live the Truth, by asking ourselves the question, "What place do my possessions hold in my heart?" Together, we'll discover whether we're defining ourselves by the amount of money and "stuff" we have - and what role God plays in that equation. Tune into our newest message, God Over Money, to determine whether you need to put your possessions in their proper place.
We’ve all been there one way or another - that point in life where you need to make a decision. Some decisions have easy answers, while others haunt our thoughts as we weigh our options. How often do we wonder which choice God wants us to make, but the Bible doesn’t spell it out for us? We pray and sit puzzled, asking ourselves, “How can I know what God wants me to do?” As we continue through our message series, James: Live the Truth, we're encouraged in the truth that God's wisdom is available to us, if only we'll ask Him for it. Listen with us to our next message in the series, Wisdom for Life, and discover how mature faith seeks God’s wisdom!
Just believe. Live your truth. Sound familiar? In a culture preaching the power of whatever feels right to you, it’s time to set aside positive vibes for a Truth you can stand on. The Biblical book of James is a call to counter-cultural living – the kind that rejects the latest “feel good” message for a mature faith. A faith with deep roots producing the fruit of a life lived on purpose. Join us as we spend the next six weeks journeying through our new message series, James: Live the Truth, as we're confronted with the question, "Am I living what I claim to believe?" Listen with us to our first message in the series, Surviving Seasons of Suffering, and discover how only through a mature faith in God can we survive the trials life brings.
No one likes to wait. We are a generation of instant gratification: we get what we want when we want it. So how do you think you'd last if you were told to wait years for something? Or even, hundreds of years? As we conclude our Christmas series, Eyewitness: Finding Your Christmas Story in Theirs, we turn to the book of Luke where we encounter Simeon & Anna as they respond to the arrival of Jesus after decades of waiting. Listen with us to our final message of the series, Waiting on Jesus, and learn from Simeon and Anna how waiting in faith enables us to receive God’s promise!
Have you ever experienced the joy on someone’s face as they open that perfect present on Christmas morning? Their joy brings you joy! As we continue our Christmas series, Eyewitness: Finding Your Christmas Story in Theirs, we turn to the book of Luke where we watch the events of the first Christmas unfold through the eyes of the shepherds. As ordinary people going about their usual daily job, they had an amazing encounter with the glory of God - and spread their great joy with everyone they encountered! Listen with us to our new message, Seeing the Good News, and experience the splendor of the extraordinary birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior!
Have you ever had a time in your life where things didn’t go as planned? And you found yourself asking God, “What? Why?” As we continue our Christmas series, Eyewitness: Finding Your Christmas Story in Theirs, we're turning to the book of Matthew, where we see this very situation play out in the life of Joseph. The Bible doesn’t say much about him, but in the glimpse we do get, God reveals a powerful truth: trusting His plan and walking in obedience bring about His glory! Listen with us to our newest message, Quiet Joseph, and discover how trust and obedience in God’s plan bring about amazing results!
Christmas is often said to be the most wonderful time of the year. As followers of Jesus, this is not just due to the Christmas festivities but because it’s the celebration of the Messiah’s birth. Can you imagine what it was like for those who got to witness that miraculous event firsthand? How amazing, overwhelming, and glorious it must have been! This Christmas, we invite you to watch the events of Jesus’ birth unfold through the eyes of the men and women who were there that first Christmas. Through our Christmas series, Eyewitness: Finding Your Christmas Story in Theirs, we’ll see that no matter who we are, the coming of the Christ was for us. Listen with us today for our first message of the series, Believing the Impossible, where we'll look through the eyes of Mary, the mother of Jesus, to discover that nothing is impossible with God!
When you consider your salvation and new life in Jesus, do you ever think of them as fragile? Something you can lose or become unworthy of? Many of us get trapped in thinking God’s affection toward us is based on our own actions. But in the final verses of Romans 8, God tears that theory apart. Today we conclude our series, Unstoppable: Bound in His Love. Freed by His Spirit., where we uncover God’s invitation into an infinitely better perspective! You are saved based on the love God has for you. Nothing can touch your salvation, because nothing is greater than God’s love. So, who can be against us? Who will bring a charge against us? Who shall separate us from Christ’s love? Discover the triumph and victory of Jesus Christ in our last message of the series, The Triumph of God’s Love!
Have you ever wondered if you would make it to the end? Whether it was a strenuous hike, an essay to write, or a difficult project at work, the striving, exhaustion, and frustration, just made you want to quit. We all know what it's like to feel we can't go even an inch further. But have you ever felt that way in your faith? Join us for our series, Unstoppable: Bound in His Love. Freed by His Spirit., as we venture through Romans 8 to uncover God’s invitation into an infinitely better perspective. Perhaps you’ve had a season of doubt or difficulty fighting sin and are wondering whether you’ll get to heaven. Maybe you don't understand why you're in this trial and are on the verge of giving up. If that's you, listen with us to our newest message, Destined for Glory!
What's something you're hopeful for right now? Maybe it's something trivial, like a victory for your favorite sports team or the season finale of the newest binge-worthy show. Or maybe it's something weighty like hoping for a family member to recover or searching for a new job. We're all wired to hope for - and in - something. The problem is, we often put our hope in the stuff and things of this world that bring nothing more than a shot of short-lived satisfaction. Join us for our new series, Unstoppable: Bound in His Love. Freed by His Spirit., as we venture through Romans 8 to uncover God’s invitation into an infinitely better perspective. Today we'll discover how to have hope in the midst of suffering as we're filled with expectation of what's to come. Listen with us to our newest message, A Cosmic Glory, and take hope that your present sufferings will give way to future glory
Identity feels like the hot topic of today, when really it’s always been a subject held in high priority. Why? Because it hits each one of us so personally. Connected to why we even exist, it begs the question, "Who am I?" If you've ever wondered why you're here, join us for our new series, Unstoppable: Bound in His Love. Freed by His Spirit., as we venture through one of the most well-know chapters of the Bible: Romans 8. Here, Paul is speaking to the identity of the believers in Rome, reminding them of WHO they are and WHOSE they are. In Christ, they have a new identity - and so do you. Do you need that reminder today? Listen with us in our newest message, The Great Reversal, and experience the incredible truth that believers are no longer slaves but heirs with Christ.
These days, most of us live in a nonstop state of busyness and distraction - and we have endless reasons to justify our lifestyle. But, deep down, could it be that the reason we distract and entertain ourselves every waking moment is to keep from feeling inadequate with the true purpose of our lives? Maybe you feel desperate for something to change. Perhaps you're longing to live the life you were created for, instead of the shallow, overly-stimulated existence of today. Join us for our new series, Unstoppable: Bound in His Love. Freed by His Spirit., as we venture through one of the most well-know chapters of the Bible: Romans 8. In the pages of Scripture, you'll encounter God's power to completely transform your life, and will uncover a more enduring purpose than anything this world has to offer. Listen with us in our first message of the series, No Condemnation!, as we discover that, in Christ, we are freed, sin is condemned, and we walk in the Spirit!
Whether in conversation, on the news, or plastered across our newsfeeds, "freedom" is a hot topic these days. There are countless opinions on what true freedom is and how it should look today. And, just as people are talking about freedom, they're talking about slavery - a word with deep pain packed into it. But maybe the reason these buzzwords run so deep in our culture is not only because of our nation's history, but because each one of us is engaged in a spiritual battle between slavery and freedom. Join us as we continue our series, New-ish?: Everything's Changed. Have You?, as Paul reminds us that everyone is a slave to sin, but through Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, Christians are free! Listen with us to our newest message, The Freest Slave, and ask yourself the question, "Whose slave am I?"
We all see the constant conflict in our world, but did you know there’s a spiritual battle happening as well? There is a struggle between who controls our hearts, whether our sinful, fleshly desires or God's Holy Spirit. But here's the good news: If you've placed your faith in Christ, we know who wins this war! Join us as we continue our series, New-ish?: Everything's Changed. Have You?, as Paul seeks to bring us to the scary realization that sin is a power that seeks to master us. But the story doesn't end there. Jesus' death and resurrection have given us victory over sin and death! The question is, does your life reflect this truth? Listen with us to our newest message, A New Master, and determine who you're allowing to rule your life!
Who is your representative? Despite your first thought, we aren’t asking about your favorite government official. Reality is, just as we're represented politically in this nation, all people are also represented spiritually by one of two individuals. Wondering who? Join us as we continue our series, New-ish?: Everything's Changed. Have You?, to discover who these two representatives are and which one is ruling your life. Listen with us to our newest message, May Grace Reign, to understand how our lives are ruled by one act from one person. The question is, which one?
Are you a good person or a bad person? That’s a hard question to answer without some kind of twist in your stomach. Today we begin our new series, New-ish?: Everything's Changed. Have You?, with a big claim: God only saves bad people. Join us as we venture through Romans 5:1-11 to uncover the truth about God's salvation. Over the next seven weeks, we'll decipher whether we're living in the freedom available to us through Jesus Christ, or trapped in the patterns of our old life. Listen with us in our first message of the series, Only Sinners Welcome, and find hope in our new life in Christ!
Over the last five weeks, we’ve examined five different places our culture tells us to look for fulfillment in this world. Like the writer, we hope to leave a lasting mark, enjoy the best this life has to offer, and accumulate the greatest knowledge and possessions we can in our lifetime – and we find ourselves forever hungry for MORE. Today, at the close of our series, Smoke & Mirrors: Deciphering Truth in a World of "truths," we come to our final question: does anything in this world truly matter? Is there any meaning to this life? Listen with us in today’s message, Fallen Purpose: Nihilism, as we turn to the pages of Ecclesiastes and discover that God is life!
If you only had _________ life would be so much better, right? In a culture flooded with newer, better versions of everything we already have, we've all fallen victim to the desire for "just a little more." Today we continue our message series, Smoke & Mirrors: Deciphering Truth in a World of "truths," by looking to the book of Ecclesiastes, where we'll explore what it looks like to have it all, but realize it still isn't enough. Listen with us in today’s message, Fallen Demand: Materialism, to enjoy the generosity of the God who shares His prize with His children!
Goal completed! Yes! So...now what? Whether our ambitions are big or small, we've all felt how quickly the "runner's high" of our successes slip away. It begs the question, why don’t the accomplishments of this world ultimately satisfy us? Today we continue our message series, Smoke & Mirrors: Deciphering Truth in a World of "truths," by looking to the book of Ecclesiastes, where we'll consider what happens when we look for meaning in our success apart from God. Listen with us in today’s message, Fallen Ambition: Individualism, and see how our God gladly shares His victory with His people!
Have you ever fallen victim to FOMO (fear of missing out)? Since the dawn of social media, this fear has become increasingly prevalent in our society. We are bombarded with everyone else’s experiences, successes, and opportunities, leaving us with a deep desire for more and more! But when the pleasure and joy of a moment subsides, what are we left with? Today we continue our message series, Smoke & Mirrors: Deciphering Truth in a World of "truths," by looking to the book of Ecclesiastes' teaching on earthly pleasures. We'll come to terms with the fact that the pleasures of this world are short-lived, but God’s goodness is unending! Listen with us in today’s message, Fallen Appetites: Hedonism, as we celebrate that God is good and His well never runs dry!
We live in a society of information overload! If you don’t know something, you google it. Resources are endless. Yet we find that, more often than not, more knowledge leads to even more questions. And we find ourselves frustrated when we can’t get the answer we want RIGHT NOW. Today we continue our message series, Smoke & Mirrors: Deciphering Truth in a World of "truths", by looking to the book of Ecclesiastes to see that a “perfect” understanding of life will always be out of reach. Where does this leave us? To trust in God! Listen with us in today’s message, Fallen Mind: Intellectualism, as we encounter the wisdom of God and realize only He is all-knowing!
Have you ever felt like you're just going through the motions of life? Like you’ve lost sight of your purpose in this world? Today we begin our brand new message series, Smoke & Mirrors: Deciphering Truth in a World of "truths", by turning to the wisdom in Ecclesiastes. Through this book, the author unmasks the myths of human autonomy and self-sufficiency and drives us to our true meaning in this world. Listen with us in today’s message, Fallen World: Naturalism, and together we’ll cling to the truth that God is Creator and has a plan for this world!
Culture is flooded with the newest “quick fix” to all our problems, and we’ve started to believe happiness is just a click away. But, the truth is, behind that product or program lies an empty promise and another disappointment - every time. Today we begin a brand new message series, Habits: Ancient Practices for Today's World, where we'll take the focus of our hearts and minds off our culture's "new big ideas" and refocus on God's time-tested truths! Listen with us and, together, we’ll re-discover age-old practices that draw us to Him, where true satisfaction awaits!
Culture is flooded with the newest “quick fix” to all our problems, and we’ve started to believe happiness is just a click away. But, the truth is, behind that product or program lies an empty promise and another disappointment - every time. Today we begin a brand new message series, Habits: Ancient Practices for Today's World, where we'll take the focus of our hearts and minds off our culture's "new big ideas" and refocus on God's time-tested truths! Listen with us and, together, we’ll re-discover age-old practices that draw us to Him, where true satisfaction awaits!
Culture is flooded with the newest “quick fix” to all our problems, and we’ve started to believe happiness is just a click away. But, the truth is, behind that product or program lies an empty promise and another disappointment - every time. Today we begin a brand new message series, Habits: Ancient Practices for Today's World, where we'll take the focus of our hearts and minds off our culture's "new big ideas" and refocus on God's time-tested truths! Listen with us and, together, we’ll re-discover age-old practices that draw us to Him, where true satisfaction awaits!
To excel in something is to do it with abundance and excellence; to go above and beyond what is “normal” in that area. In our Biblical text today, we are called to “stand out” or “surpass” the norm in a particular area of our lives: generosity. As we continue our message series - Overflow: From Him, Through Us, For All - we'll be challenged by God's Word to not simply give, but to excel in our giving! Listen with us to our newest message, Giving & Love, as we see how exceptional giving displays God’s grace, genuine love, and ultimately the truth of the Gospel!
Have you received God’s grace in your life? This is the big question we're asking through our newest message series, Overflow: From Him, Through Us, For All. The evidence that we've received that gift of grace is seen in how it overflows throughout all aspects of our lives regardless of our circumstances, beyond our own limitations, and as a giving of our very self to God. Listen with us to our first message, Giving & the Gospel, as we discover that grace received is grace given.
Jesus frequently used parables, or stories, to teach us important lessons. In our last message we examined a parable urging us to be ready for Christ’s return. Today, we dive into the Parable of the Talents, an illustration of what it looks like to multiply – or squander – the gifts God’s given us. We continue in our series, What Now: How Tomorrow Shapes Today, by learning from the decisions of three servants, whose actions invite us to contemplate the way we’re using our own giftings. Listen with us in our newest message, Being Ready Means Being Diligent, and learn what it looks like to reinvest for the Kingdom of God.
Last week we posed the question, “Are you ready?” This week we challenge you, “But really, are you?” Join us as we continue in our series, What Now: How Tomorrow Shapes Today, by evaluating the parable Jesus told of the 10 virgins. Together, we'll examine our hearts to determine whether our discipleship is authentic or superficial - and learn the implications of both. Listen with us in our newest message, "Really, Are You Ready?", as we look ahead to the return of Jesus Christ.
Are you ready? That question alone is enough to put us on edge. When we’re standing at the start of something new, many of us get that familiar sinking feeling in our stomach as we begin to question, “Am I ready for this?” Today we continue through our series, What Now: How Tomorrow Shapes Today, by examining whether we're truly ready for the long-awaited day when our Savior returns. Listen with us in our newest message, "Are You Ready?", as we uncover Jesus' teaching about the last days before His return.
Many of us have found ourselves asking, “What could possibly happen next?” We’ve lost our sense of control over the future and don’t know how the events of the world will play out. Yet in the midst of the unknown, God invites us to hold fast to His unchanging nature and steadfast promises. Today we continue through our series, What Now: How Tomorrow Shapes Today, where we'll see that while the things of this world are always changing, the Word of our Savior never does. Listen with us in our newest message, God’s Forever King!
For many, a key motivation in what we choose to do every minute of our day is to avoid discomfort. Our culture tries its hardest to escape any kind of suffering. No one likes to suffer, but the extremes many take to stay comfortable has become an idol to many. And the Christian church is not exempt. Today, as we continue through our series, What Now: How Tomorrow Shapes Today, we’re hit with the hard truth that suffering is inevitable, especially as Christians. But we have a Savior who also suffered and overcame it all for us. Listen with us in our newest message, Don’t Be Surprised.
As we've turned the page to a new year, many are wondering what’ll come next and how to navigate it when it does. Today we kick off our brand new series, What Now: How Tomorrow Shapes Today, where answer the question on everyone's mind: "What do we do now?" Listen with us in our newest message, Not So Breaking News, as we explore what Matthew 24 reveals about how the Gospel should and WILL be proclaimed throughout the world regardless of the circumstances of our day!
Christians often use the phrase, "born again," but do we really understand what it means? In our culture, we've come to relate the idea of birth with a new beginning, a fresh start, a grand renewal. And such is the case with our salvation! In the next part of our series, The Forgotten Virtue: Learning to Love Again, we unpack what it means for our new birth in Jesus Christ to make us a child of God. Listen with us in our newest message, Born into God’s Family, to discover how 1 John 5 reveals that when we become a child of God, we believe in Jesus, love others, and have overcome the world!
If you're a follower of Jesus, can the people around you tell? While we don’t wear material indicators of our faith, our lives should display the radical, sacrificial love of our Savior. In the next part of our series, The Forgotten Virtue: Learning to Love Again, 1 John 4 reveals that to believe in Jesus Christ is to know God's love. Listen with us in our newest message, What’s Love Got To Do With It?, to learn how God’s love is in us, for us, and between us!
Has loving the people around you ever felt like a chore? Like you're running on an empty tank? Maybe it's because you aren't being filled with the right kind of fuel. In the next part of our series, The Forgotten Virtue: Learning to Love Again, the scripture of 1 John 4 teaches us God is our ultimate, enduring source of love because he IS love! Listen with us in our newest message, Love Defined, to discover how love begins, manifests, and is perfected through our triune God!
It wouldn’t take much searching to find harsh, hate-filled words being spoken in the name of “being right.” We may even contribute to these damaging conversations ourselves. In the next part of our series, The Forgotten Virtue: Learning to Love Again, the words of 1 John reveal how seriously God condemns hatred - to the point of equating it with murder! Listen with us in our newest message, A Tale of Two Loves, where we discover that hate only takes while love always serves.
We often hear that God is love - and He is! But our world has a way of twisting something God created into a thing He never intended it to be. And our understanding of love is no exception. In our misunderstanding of God's love, many have come to believe He's incapable of hating or judging evil and sin. Today, we continue in our series, The Forgotten Virtue: Learning to Love Again, by looking to 1 John 2 for the truth about love. Listen with us in our newest message, The Love God Hates, as we compare the love God intended for us with the worldly love that surrounds us.
When we face trials, we can lose sight of what it means to really love, as God calls us to. Today we begin our new message series, The Forgotten Virtue: Learning to Love Again, by taking a hard look at how society, including the Church, left love behind in 2020. Listen with us in our newest message, The Old (New) Commandment, as we discover how truly knowing God transforms our understanding of love.
Whether depicted in movies, books, or even in our imagination, when we see a king they are typically being catered to or assisted by many different servants. Between royalty, wealth, or status, those in authority seem to have many at their disposal to serve their needs and wants. So how unique and heartwarming when we witness someone who could be served by many, choosing to serve those around (especially those possibly in a lower position then them)?! This week we continue our series, Giftwrapped: From Longing to Lavished, where we will unpack the covenant that God made with David in the book of 2 Samuel. There we will learn about God's promise of a messiah king to His people and even as king, Jesus Christ came to earth to serve us! Listen with us in our newest message, The King Who Serves! And on Christmas, we can be reminded of what an amazing gift Jesus Christ was to us all!
As each new unprecedented update floods our screens and news feeds, we can’t help but wonder “why?” Some of us may question how we can escape this darkness in the world. This week we continue our series, Giftwrapped: From Longing to Lavished, where we will unpack the covenant that God made with Moses and His people in the book of Exodus. Listen with us in our newest message, Bearing the Family Resemblance, to see how God saves, equips, and establishes community for His people!
When reading the promises of God in Scripture, our minds are stirred to wonder: Will God keep these promises? Can I really trust God to do what He says? This week we continue our series, Giftwrapped: From Longing to Lavished, by answering these lingering questions. Together we'll unpack the covenant God made with Abraham in the book of Genesis - a promise He's still keeping with us today! Listen with us in our newest message, Believing in an Unseen Home.
This week we start a brand new series called Giftwrapped: From Longing to Lavished, where we will analyze the covenants God has made with His people - that’s us! Today, we start with the covenant He made to Noah in Genesis. In this covenant, God promises never destroy the earth and life on the earth by a flood giving Noah, and us, stability and grounds to trust the works of God. Learn more about how this promise still currently impacts us and how a fresh start can only be found through Jesus with our newest message, A New Beginning!
1 Kings 19:19-21 So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him.20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” 21 And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.
When walking through suffering what do we focus on? Often, focus is on ourselves and the situation. And our mind is flooded with a asking – why, why God? This week we hear a message from Senior Pastor Chris Brooks, where we will unpack how as believers in Jesus Christ we are going to encounter suffering. But instead of dwelling on the “why” we compel you to ask different questions that will ultimately allow you see grow deep in your faith in God and accept His saving grace! Listen with us in our newest message, Suffering for Good!
When walking through suffering what do we focus on? Often, focus is on ourselves and the situation. And our mind is flooded with a asking – why, why God? This week we hear a message from Senior Pastor Chris Brooks, where we will unpack how as believers in Jesus Christ we are going to encounter suffering. But instead of dwelling on the “why” we compel you to ask different questions that will ultimately allow you see grow deep in your faith in God and accept His saving grace! Listen with us in our newest message, Suffering for Good!
It’s time to rethink what it means to be a citizen in this country. Too often we allow politics and opposing parties to dictate how we behave and treat others around us. This week we continue our series, Unshakeable: Steadfast Hope in an Unpredictable World, we discuss how we are supposed act as temporary citizens of this world but eternal citizens of heaven! Listen with us in our newest message, One Nation Under God, to hear how submission, goodness, and servanthood is how God wants us to live!
All our lives are witnesses to something and someone every single day. Our passions and priorities are evident to those that get to know us. As Christians, there is nothing greater, more glorious calling than being used and empowered through the Holy Spirit to make disciples for the glory of God! This week we continue our series, Unshakeable: Steadfast Hope in an Unpredictable World, we discuss how internal and external spiritual battles must be fought so that our lives can point others to Christ. Listen with us in our newest message, Exiles Within The World.
Whether you are a Christian or not, we have times where we question who God is and who we are. Many are searching for their place and purpose in life and end up feeling lost and shook with doubt. This week we continue our series, Unshakeable: Steadfast Hope in an Unpredictable World, where our examination of 1 Peter 2 reminds us who we are, why we are here, and what God has done for us! In God's Word, we will find the answers to our deepest longing and questions. Listen with us in our newest message, God's Kinda People.
Tragically, often church culture has transformed into a spectator sport. It is something we consume once or twice a week, but then go home to live life apart from what is learned and from what God is calling us to do as His beloved children. Our whole lives should be built off of God, our foundation! This week we continue our series, Unshakeable: Steadfast Hope in an Unpredictable World, where we examine 1 Peter 2 and we that each of us has a place in the house of God. Listen with us in our newest message, This Is God's House.
Sometimes we hear the word "love" and imagine that deep feeling of affection or romance with red hearts and warm hugs. But love shouldn't just be a feeling. God intends for it to be so much more! Love is active, ongoing, and a daily choice. This week we continue our series, Unshakeable: Steadfast Hope in an Unpredictable World, by analyzing how the source to great love is truly knowing God and growing in our faith in Him. Listen with us in our newest message, Love is a Verb.
What do you hope for today? What do you hope for this year? Or even this lifetime? Hope is a powerful thing and it can guide how we choose to live each day. This week we continue our series, Unshakeable: Steadfast Hope in an Unpredictable World, where we make the connection of what we hope to how we act. When we know of the future grace and victory God has given us, we are transformed in how we conduct our lives! But do we truly find our hope in God alone? Listen with us in our newest message, What Do You Hope For?
This week we are starting a brand new series, Unshakeable: Steadfast Hope in an Unpredictable World! Hope seems to be a word thrown around when our circumstances seem, well, hopeless. In this series, searching for hope, we look to 1 Peter. Here, we read of the unshakeable hope of a scattered group of Christians facing exile and persecution from the culture around them. We see that hope is active and are encouraged to praise God for the security we can find only in our Savior, Jesus Christ. Even if we are experiencing great suffering, we know that Jesus is our hope. Listen with us in our newest message, Hope Has a Pulse.
iWe all have an image of who Jesus. Often this image is created in our minds. In this message we see how it's best not to lean on the Jesus we think we need, but the Jesus that actually rules and reigns and sustains us.
Learn the eternal impact of when you intentionally intersect the life of someone around you. When you intentionally allow God to use who you are to connect the little story of us with the huge story of Him.
As we wrap up our series, Built for More, where we’ve studied how God desires for us to live in community together, we conclude by looking at what God desires to do through us as His people. We truly are built for more! But there’s something else we need to see before we begin to unpack this massive purpose. Discover with us in our newest message, Blessed for the Nations.
If we asked people what they have been most fearful of during this time, we may get many different answers; from COVID-19, social injustices, the unknown future, or maybe the safety of their family. But we have good news, THE good news! God is the greatest and most powerful. Period. And guess what? He’s on our side! Discover with us in our newest message, Imagined Disaster, how when God is with us, we have nothing to fear.
Unity seems very hard to come by these days. And we’ve all felt the harsh effects of what disunity causes. The Psalmist tells us of an eternal remedy - spiritual unity! God has given us the precious gift of a spiritual family. Discover with us in our newest message, The Goodness of Unity, how we can find the ultimate harmony in our Lord and Savior.
When one testifies in a courtroom, it’s usually to present evidence or because they witnessed something important. When we witness God’s goodness and power even during trials of life, we cannot help but testify!! We invite you to discover more on this message, Collective Testimony.
Has worship ever seemed like just a tradition you are supposed to do before a Sunday service? And now, worship seems less inspiring over a TV or computer screen? In Part 3 of our message series, Assembly Required, we are discussing the importance of praising God in every season. Worship is the key to unlocking blessings that we may have never realized. So what does happen when we praise God? Discover more in this message, Ever-present Praise.
Have you ever had to forgive someone who wasn’t really sorry? Not the easiest thing to do and ultimately that relationship will never be the same. Without repentance there is rarely a restored relationship. It's the same with God (and it’s not His fault). God wants nothing more than to have a relationship with us, with YOU! If our sin earns us God’s displeasure and separation from us, how is it possible to be restored to relationship and joy? Let's find out together as we discuss The Joy of Confession.
How do you know what your priorities really are? We prioritize what we delight in. The things that give us the greatest joy, we tend to meditate on. The same is true for the church when we gather. What we delight in most, what we value most, is what we prioritize, even when we gather as a church body. We should be asking the question, do our revealed delights match what we declare as a priority while in church? Discover more in this sermon, We Are What We Love.
Through the Parable of the Great Reversal, Jesus points our focus inward, inviting us to reflect on our own posture toward the Word of God. At the same time, he guides our attention to what’s to come, revealing to each one of us how our posture today determines our position in eternity.
When he told the Parable of the Qualified Sinner, Jesus revealed two ways people approach God. The meaning behind this story is as relevant to us today as it was to those listening when Jesus spoke it. Come away understanding how the heart matters when we approach God, and what may just be the matter with your heart.
As we study the parable Jesus told of the Open-Invite Banquet, we’ll discover what it looks like when we live as if the Kingdom of God has an open invitation. Parables are stories with intent, with the power to reveal truth we wouldn’t otherwise see. This parable asks us to stop treating Gospel invitations like an invitation to a social party and to truly consider, who are you inviting to the Kingdom?